Va. Code » Title 48. Nuisances » Chapter 2. Houses of Prostitution, Etc.
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 48-7 (2026)

Houses and contents are nuisances subject to abatement

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Any person who shall knowingly erect, establish, continue, maintain, use, own, occupy or lease any building, erection, place, or area used for the purpose of lewdness, assignation, prostitution, or activities of a criminal street gang, as criminal street gang is defined in § 18.2-46.1 in the Commonwealth is guilty of a nuisance, and the building, erection, place, or area, the ground itself, in or upon which such lewdness, assignation, prostitution, or criminal street gang activity is conducted, permitted, or carried on, continued, or exists, and the furniture, fixtures, musical instruments and contents are also declared a nuisance, and shall be enjoined and abated as hereinafter provided.

Code 1919, § 1521; 2005, cc. 764, 813.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1975–2024 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Croatan Books, Inc., 323 S.E.2d 86 (Va. 1984).
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Commonwealth v. Croatan Books, Inc., 323 S.E.2d 86 (Va. 1984). · cites it 7× “On August 4, 1983, the trial court entered an order finding that the Commonwealth had shown by clear and convincing evidence that criminal sexual activity existed on the premises of Croatan Books of such a continuous and pervasive nature as to constitute a public nuisance as…”
Flannery v. City of Norfolk, 218 S.E.2d 730 (Va. 1975). · cites it 2× “…or prostitution” is guilty of a nuisance, and the building where such conduct is permitted is declared a nuisance. Code § 48-7.”
Robin Lynn Fry v. Charles Andrew Fry, No. 22-ica-47, 2023 WL 1463353 (Feb. 2, 2023). “Va. Code § 48-7 - 103]. Whiting at 452 , 396 S.”
Ronald Dale Cork, II v. Dawna Annette Cork, No. 23-ica-76 (Nov. 1, 2023). “Va. Code § 48-7 - 103]. Whiting v. Whiting, 183 W.”
Tina M. Bible v. Gregory E. Bible, No. 23-ica-159 (Dec. 27, 2023). “Va. Code § 48-7 - 103]. Whiting 183 W. Va.”
Harley J. LeMasters v. Rebecca K. LeMasters, No. 23-ica-142 (Feb. 8, 2024). “The first step is to classify the parties’ property as marital or non-marital. The second step is to value the marital assets.”
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